Vikings storm past NorthPointe Christian

September 25, 2014 - 11:06

By:

Leo Martonosi

“Hats off to Hopkins.”Those were the words used more than once by NorthPointe Christian football coach Tim Swore after the Vikings knocked off Swore’s Mustangs 37-20 in the OK Silver opener for both teams on Friday, Sept. 19.The comments by Swore came at midfield as members of both teams knelt together for words of wisdom and a prayer.“(Swore) seems like a real class act,” said the Viking Wyatt Stegeman, who once again led the Hopkins’ potent ground game that rushed for nearly 400 yards.The rugged Stegeman powered his way up the middle and around end to scamper for 211 yards on 22 carries. This was the fourth straight game in which Stegeman has caught the fancy of the crowd from both sides of the field, including his coach.“Wyatt’s obviously done well, but he would be the first to tell you he wouldn’t be putting up the numbers he has if it wasn’t for the offensive line,” said Hopkins coach Cody Francis.Stegeman agreed.“Once again our line opened up some big holes,” Stegeman said. “All the credit goes to them.”Two of Stegeman’s runs resulted in 12 points. His first TD covered 18 yards and his second 37 yards.Stegeman enjoyed the challenge of going up against the Mustangs’ hard-hitting linebacker/running back Kenny Willekes.“That No. 35 is a man,” Stegeman said of Willekes. “I hit him as hard as I could, but he also got me a couple of times.”Quincy Collings, who missed last week’s week win over Parchment because of dehydration, carried the ball 11 times for 117 yards for Hopkins. However, once again he cramped up and received treatment on the sidelines from Hopkins trainer Vanessa Miller and her staff.“I drank a lot of water today and was doing what the coaches have told me,” Collings said. “It’s hard to explain what’s going on.”

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